BIG BUD 747 coming to Illinois!!!!!!!!!

Big Bud is coming to the I&I show in Penfield Illinois in July . It will also be in Rantoul,Illinois in August for the Half Century of Progress show.

there's one for sale on Craigslist in Montana for $55,000.00

My son and I climed around a bit on it in 1997, it is awsome =, JimN

There is only one "Big Bud 747". Big Bud tractor company made and sold many smaller tractors. Smaller being not as big as the "747". Wayne

That bugger's gonna be a trick to move. I read one time that when they brought it back up from Florida,they tore it apart and hauled it on 3 trucks.

What are you guys talking about? Hoss

Bigfoot was to trucks as Big Bud 747 is to tractors.
You Tube Video

Here it is:

I read that it was rebuilt recently. Nine hundred horsepower. Would be fun to hook up a row of moldboard plows behind it- it could probably handle something like the plow they hook on behind 3 steam engines.

How much does that thing weigh?

do those guys from montana still use it to farm?
i have a video about it somewhere around here.
also have the 1/32 toy ones in standard and rebuilt models.

Never seen it in person, it is an impressive machine. I heard a while back it was for sale again, wonder if thats why its going on tour? I think it was turned up to 900 hundred after it was rebuilt, but then turned back down again. I think there are rigs around that could haul it, but every state has different regulations, so maybe it would have to get split to haul, don't know i guess. It will be a popular attraction thats for sure. The neighbors run a couple 525's, i think thats what they are, they have the 1150 cummins in, impressive machines.

(quoted from post at 19:08:47 02/20/09) do those guys from montana still use it to farm?
i have a video about it somewhere around here.
also have the 1/32 toy ones in standard and rebuilt models.

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I have good friends that live about 20 miles from the Williams brothers. When I saw my buddy last April he told me that they retired the 747 and are farming with 2 smaller 4wd tractors. Fuel prices are part of their decision to retire it from active duty.

whooo, it kinda hurt me to see that cold engine revved like that. jim

(quoted from post at 13:03:31 02/20/09) Big Bud is coming to the I&I show in Penfield Illinois in July . It will also be in Rantoul,Illinois in August for the Half Century of Progress show.

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The 50th reunion of the John Deere 8010's is gonna be at Rantoul too!! :shock: :roll: There's an article in the second edition of "Heritage Iron" about the 8010's & 8020's, an' that's where it tells about the Rantoul gathering. :wink:
Dave 8)

Dang it!

It would hurt your ears a LOT more if you were there...

Rod

I think I read somewhere that it was in the vicinity of 100K # when 'field ready'. Somewhat less than that unballasted and without fuel.

I would think that if the wheels were knocked off it could be moved fairly easily on a 4 axle float and tandem jeep, and mabey without the jeep actually... Probably require some permits, but nothing too serious. It could be done here anyway, but our axle loads tend to be quite a bit higher here.

Rod

It appeared on the cover of the year 2000 calendar "Classic Farm Tractors"

A write-up with that picture had a bunch of statistics about it.

Weight of 130,000 lbs with fuel in its 1000 gal tank, 20 ft wide, 28 ft long, 14 ft high to the top of the cab.

It"s a 1977 model. The Williams Bros used it to pull an 80 ft chisel plow covering 60-70 acres per hr at 6 1/2 to 7 1/2 MPH. Covered 8000-9000 acres in two weeks.

It had been used in California and Florida before Williams Bros bought it. They paid $95,000 for it and spent $15,000 on a restoration. Tires were specially made just for it.

When is Big Bud coming to Illinois?
Where in Illinois??
What is the date ??

(quoted from post at 11:01:49 04/16/09) When is Big Bud coming to Illinois?
Where in Illinois??
What is the date ??

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Big Bud 747 will be at the Half Century of Progress IV at Rantoul National Aviation Center Airport, (The former Chanute Air Force Base), Rantoul, IL on August 27 - 30, 2009 This info was taken from the May issue of Heritage Iron that came today! :wink:
8)

Hello Diane,

Big Bud will be at Historic Farm Days in Penfield, Illinois July 9,10,11,12 2009.

Big Bud will be shown again at Half Century of Progress show in Rantoul Illinois August 27,28,29,30 2009.

Here are a couple links for more info.

http://www.antiquefarm.org/

http://halfcenturyofprogress.org

I am proud to be a member of The I & I Antique Tractor & Gas Engine Club that is hosting both of these events.

Dave Olson - East-Central Illinois

(reply to post at 10:03:31 02/20/09)

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I know the Williams Brothers very well. They own the Big Bud brand and Toy Tractor Times developes and markets Big Bud toy models.

It will be exciting to see the Big Bud in Ill. It promises to be a great event. Toy Tractor Times will be set up with the 747 with Big Bud toys and a 747 puzzel.

The 747 is in semi retirement and will be going on a nation wide tour to major farm events for tractor fans to see.

Two factors have brought about the 747's depature from the field for the road trip.

#1. With the advance of no-till farming the 747 worked itself out of a job. The 747 at the Williams farm pulled an 80ft chisel plow and with the tractor turned up to 1,100 hp it could cover an ace a minute. Thanks to round up the chisel plow is no longer needed.

#2. The 747 is so big that when it was built in 1978 eight tires were special were molded for the tractor. After 30 years of field service the tires are at a point where there life has been about used up. With no-till becoming the the main seeding practice on the Williams farm the expense of replacing eight custom tires would not make sense.

The Williams bothers farm 14,000 acres. Their tractor line up includes the Big Bud 747, Big Bud 440, Big Bud 400/30, Big Bud HN-320, Case 4994, Case 4890, Case 4890, Case 970, David Brown 1210. They are great guys and have an interesting operation to visit.

The current issue of Heritage Iron has a story on the 22 year history of Big Bud production. The Big Bud 747 was the largest model in the line but over 500 different Big Buds were produced ranging from 250-760 hp. The last Big Bud was the model 740 rated at 740 hp produced in 1991.

If I can help answer any Big Bud questions please e-mail me at [email protected]

Jason